2011 Bmw X3 SAV

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2011 Bmw X3 SAV has 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: vehicle is parked on driveway the engine started . drivetrain malfunction shows with check engine light on. engine starts but can not put it drive or reverse.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

4 complaints

22%

• VEHICLE IS PARKED ON DRIVEWAY THE ENGINE STARTED . DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION SHOWS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. ENGINE STARTS BUT CAN NOT PUT IT DRIVE OR REVERSE
• BMW'S USE ELECTRIC WATER PUMPS COMPARED TO MOSTLY BELT DRIVEN PUMPS USED BY OTHER MANUFACTURES. IN THE BMW COMMUNITY IT IS WIDELY KNOW THAT THE PUMPS WILL FAIL AFTER 60,000 MILES, AND SOME EVEN SOONER. BMW KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND HAS IN FACT CHANGED THE DESIGN AND THE VENDOR SUPPLIER FOR THIS PA
• THE COOLANT SYSTEM IS GIVING ME MANY PROBLEMS. THE COOLANT EXPANSION TANK DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE SEAM AND LEAKING. THE THERMOSTAT WAS STUCK, CAUSING ZERO HEAT INTO THE CABIN ON A COLD DAY. THE VEHICLE STALLED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY. IT WOULD NOT RE START THE IGNITION KEPT TRYING, A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“VEHICLE IS PARKED ON DRIVEWAY THE ENGINE STARTED . DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION SHOWS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. ENGINE STARTS BUT CAN NOT PUT IT DRIVE OR REVERSE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

3 complaints

17%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE STEERING CONTROL MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCE
• STEERING IS "STICKY" WHEN TRYING TO MOVE FROM THE CENTER POSITION IN MY 2011 BMW X3 35I-- DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS USED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE CURRENT LANE OF TRAVEL, HIGHER THAN NORMAL RESISTANCE TO TURNING IS FELT. ONCE THE INITIAL RESISTANCE IS OVERCOME, THE RESISTANC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE STEERING CONTROL MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

3 complaints

17%

• TAKATA RECALL: THE DEALER HAD FAILED TO OBTAIN THE PART OR PARTS NECESSARY TO FIX THE AIRBAGS PROBLEM FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS ALREADY SINCE THEY CLAIMED HAD ORDERED THE PARTS. I CALLED BACK, MADE APPOINTMENT, CONFIRMED APPOINTMENT AND WHEN I WENT BACK TO DEALER, THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PAR
• ONLY HAVE MY CAR FOR ONLY A YEAR. TAILLIGHT FROM PASSENGER SIDE: THE RUNNING LIGHT DEFECTS WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. I WAS TOLD I NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY LIGHT AND THIS IS WELL KNOWN FOR THIS CAR. YESTERDAY, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. MY DRIVER RESTRAINT LIGHT CAME ON A
• NOTHING HAPPENED (YET) BUT BMW SERVICE TELLS ME THERE'S NO RECALLS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF ON MY VEHICLE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TAKATA RECALL: THE DEALER HAD FAILED TO OBTAIN THE PART OR PARTS NECESSARY TO FIX THE AIRBAGS PROBLEM FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS ALREADY SINCE THEY CLAIMED HAD ORDERED THE PARTS. I CALLED BACK, MADE APPOINTMENT, CONFIRMED APPOINTMENT AND WHEN I WENT BACK TO DEALER, THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PAR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

2 complaints

11%

• I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE CONFIGURATION OF THE GEARSHIFT WHICH IS ELECTRONIC. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 50 YEARS AND EVERY CAR OR TRUCK I HAVE OWNED OR DRIVEN THE SHIFT LEVER WHEN PUSHED FORWARD ON THE CENTER CONSOLE OR UP ON THE COLUMN GOES INTO PARK. IN THIS BMW WHEN YOU PUSH THE SHIF
• THE COOLANT SYSTEM IS GIVING ME MANY PROBLEMS. THE COOLANT EXPANSION TANK DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE SEAM AND LEAKING. THE THERMOSTAT WAS STUCK, CAUSING ZERO HEAT INTO THE CABIN ON A COLD DAY. THE VEHICLE STALLED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY. IT WOULD NOT RE START THE IGNITION KEPT TRYING, A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE CONFIGURATION OF THE GEARSHIFT WHICH IS ELECTRONIC. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 50 YEARS AND EVERY CAR OR TRUCK I HAVE OWNED OR DRIVEN THE SHIFT LEVER WHEN PUSHED FORWARD ON THE CENTER CONSOLE OR UP ON THE COLUMN GOES INTO PARK. IN THIS BMW WHEN YOU PUSH THE SHIF”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

2 complaints

11%

• VEHICLES HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH LOWER ANCHOR BARS FOR USE IN ATTACHING CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS WHICH, IF SPECIFICALLY USED WITH EUROPEAN-ISOFIX-TYPE RIGID-STYLE CONNECTOR CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, COULD BECOME DAMAGED DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IF THE LOWER ANCHOR BAR(S) BECOME DAMAGED DURING VEH
• AS TEMPERATURE GAUGE RISES ABOVE FIRST HASH MARK A WARNING COMES ON THE SCREEN CAR RUNNING HOT DRIVE SLOW AND GET SERVICED. ONCE TEMP REACHES BEFORE THE MID-POINT WHICH IS 250 SO AT ABOUT 230 TO 240 DEGREES THE CAR LOOSES ALL POWER. PUTTING THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR IT DOWN SHIFTS ENGINE RACES AND CAR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“VEHICLES HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH LOWER ANCHOR BARS FOR USE IN ATTACHING CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS WHICH, IF SPECIFICALLY USED WITH EUROPEAN-ISOFIX-TYPE RIGID-STYLE CONNECTOR CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, COULD BECOME DAMAGED DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IF THE LOWER ANCHOR BAR(S) BECOME DAMAGED DURING VEH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 18 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: VEHICLE IS PARKED ON DRIVEWAY THE ENGINE STARTED . DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION SHOWS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. ENGINE STARTS BUT CAN NOT PUT IT DRIVE OR REVERSE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE STEERING CONTROL MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TAKATA RECALL: THE DEALER HAD FAILED TO OBTAIN THE PART OR PARTS NECESSARY TO FIX THE AIRBAGS PROBLEM FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS ALREADY SINCE THEY CLAIMED HAD ORDERED THE PARTS. I CALLED BACK, MADE APPOINTMENT, CONFIRMED APPOINTMENT AND WHEN I WENT BACK TO DEALER, THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE CONFIGURATION OF THE GEARSHIFT WHICH IS ELECTRONIC. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 50 YEARS AND EVERY CAR OR TRUCK I HAVE OWNED OR DRIVEN THE SHIFT LEVER WHEN PUSHED FORWARD ON THE CENTER CONSOLE OR UP ON THE COLUMN GOES INTO PARK. IN THIS BMW WHEN YOU PUSH THE SHIF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Bmw X3 SAV — Year Comparison

How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.

2012

7Excellent Reliability

2011

18Excellent Reliability

2010

27Above Average

Full years-to-avoid analysis →

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints: 18
Recalls: 0
Fire reports: 0
Crash reports: 0
Injury reports: 0
Segment avg: 80

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2011 Bmw X3 SAV

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